Electrically-operated point-shifting mechanism.



A. OESTERREIGHER.

ELEGTRIUALLY OPERATED POINT SHIFTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION nun) APR. 21, 1908.

926,507,; Patented June 29, 1909.

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UNITED STATES ALFRED OESTERREIOHER, OF VIENN A, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

ELE CTRICALLY-OPERATED POINT-SHIFTING ME CHAN ISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed April 21, 1908. Serial No. 428,473.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED Onsrna REICIJ an, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, Austria- I'lungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Point-Shifting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically oper ated point shifting mechanism and has for its object to provide an improved construction and arrangement thereof.

In electrically operated point shifting mechanism embodying this invention an electric motor actuates self-locking worm gear which, simultaneously with the shifting of the point tongues, operates a device that indicates the position of the points and a circuit closing switch included in the circuit of the motor and also works a contact device which is included in a branch conductor joined on at both sides of the reversing switch to the main circuit and which device breaks the circuit of the motor current at the desired time. The apparatus also includes a double relay the windings of which are so constantly connected in series with the source of current that, to close the circuit of the motor, each individual or separate relay can be operated independently of the other through a single common conductor which, to operate the point shifting mechanism, alternately supplies actuating current of a different sign. A construction of such improved point shifting mechanism is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying diagram.

at is an electromotor which, through suitable gearing g, drives a worm s that gears into a worm wheel 8 Fixed upon the shaftof the worm wheel 8 is a crank 70 to which is pivoted one end of a link 72 whose other end is pivotally connected to the arm I) of a three-armed lever it.

The lever it is mounted to rotate about an axle at and to another arm 0 thereof is attached the pull rod t which operates the switch tongues 2 2 of the points. The other arm a of the lever 12, controls the reversing switch, preferably through a link and lever, as shown.

A device Z that indicates the position of the points is also correspondingly moved when the points are moved, by the lever arm 7) through bevel wheels 1" and intermediate I l I i mechanism comprising a link (Z and a lever arm as shown.

Fixed upon but insulated from the shaft of the worm wheel 8 is a contact disk j formed with two diametrically opposite recesses.

\Vhen the parts are at rest contact fingers connected to tern'iinal points 6 and 7 lie over the recesses in the disk I" and 1* indicate a double relay adapted to control the motor for the purpose of reversing the direction of movement of the points.

a and c are s n'ing pressed bridge c011- tacts arranged to be actuated directly by the tongues 2, .2 of the points.

The conductors of the el operating the mechanism are connected to terminals I, II and III. The working of the apparatus is as follows: If, to actuate the mechanism a positive current be fed to the terminal I, it flows along the conductor 1 to the point 2 then to 3 and over the winding of the relay 1' to the point 4, over the point 1.5 to the negative terminal III. The relays and r are constantly connected in series with the terminals II and III but the windings thereof are so calculated that the armatures are only attracted when full tension obtains, the pressure between the terminals II and III not being sutlicient in itself to attract the armatures.

The source of current connected to the terminals II and III is the same as that by which the point shifting mechanism is actuated.

By the hereinbefore mentioned positive current from the terminal I the relay 7 is brought to the full tension and its armature is therefore raised and the contacts 6 and 7 consequently bridged. A branch current then flows from II to the point 5, through the contacts 67 to the contact piece 8 of the reversing switch in, through the reversing switch lever to the point 9, from 9 to 10 and thence to 11, through the field winding of the motor m to 12, from 12 to 13 and through the winding of the armature to 14, over 15 to the negative terminal III. The motor is thus caused to rotate and the worm wheel 8 and the crank Z: in connection therewith move in the direction of the arrow and impart motion to the lever h, which, by means of the rod If begins to thrust the point tongues 2, .2 to the right.

ectric current for Ill.)

As soon as the wheel .5 begins to rotate the contact fingers G-T, are electrically connected by the partially rotated disk As the movements continue the circuit closing switch u is moved over by the lever arm a so that its contact lever is thrown over onto the right hand contact strip 8. From the moment the arm of the switch n. leaves the contact strip 8 the motor receives its working current from the terminal IT over the point the contact lingers 6-T, through 10, 11, 1'2, 13, ll to the front 15 and thence to the negative contact 111. The motor continues to rotate until the recesses in the disk j are again brought under the contact lingers 67 whereby the motor current is interrupted. This interruption takes place i when the worm wheel shaft has completed half a revolution and at that time the lever has been moved through an amount corresponding to the diameter of the circle of the crank Z2. The tongues 2 2 of the points are then in their right hand positions and the l indicating device Z has been correspondingly actuated by the rod (Z. The worm gear is self locking so that the locking of the point tongues in either of their extreme pol sitions is effected by the point operating mechanism itself.

The operation of the points is the known shearing pins or by effected by any other mechanical point operating device.

The points are moved back into their original or left hand position by the reversal of the actuating current, the terminal rent. in consequence of the negative current from the terminal I the relay 1' receives the full tension over the conductor through 2, 3, winding of the relay 1*, 4:, 16 to the terminal Ti and the armature of such relay is raised and the contacts (5", 7 bridged. A current then flows from the terminal 11, through 16, 5, (3, T to the contact piece 8 of the reversing switch u, through 9, 10 to 11, 12. 13 to the motor at over 1%, 15 to the negative terminal III. The motor thereupon commences to rotate I being then supplied with a negative curagain and the lever IL is moved in the reverse direction. The circuit closing switch a again moved over and the working current supplied to the motor through the contact. lingers 67 as before. The crank 7.: again completes halt a revolution and the point l tongues return to their original position. l

The contacts 0 c are connected at 16 and l 15 respectively to the positive and negative l conductors and accordingly supply positive 1 and negative controlling currents alternately l which are employed for tical indicating devices and supervising magnets at the operating station as well understood.

Claim:

1. In electrically operated point the working of opshifting 1 mechanism, in combination, switch points, a motor, a ciicuit closing switch including two contacts and an arm traversing said contacts, means for operating the switch points from the motor, means operable from the motor for causing said switch arm to traverse said contacts, a motor circuit, means i'or closing said circuit through either of said contacts and said switch arm, and means for closing said circuit during the travel of said switch arm when the circuit closing contact of the latter is broken.

In electrically operated point shitting mechanism, in combination, switch points, a. motor, a circuit closing switch including contacts and an arm to engage any one contact, means for operating the switch points in one direction from the motor, means for causing the switch arm to leave its contact during the operation of the motor, a motor circuit, means for closing said circuit through any one contact, and means closing said circuit during the travel. of said switch arm when the circuit closing contact of the latter is broken, said last named means having operation to break the motor circuitwhen the movement of the switch points is completed.

3. in electrically operated point shifting mechanism. in combination, switch points, a motor, a motor circuit having two contact points, a switch arm traversing said contact points and engaging alternately therewith, a double relay operable to close said circuit through either of the contact points, means for operating the switch points from the motor, and means for operating the switch arm from the motor to break the circuit established by the relay.

l. in electrically operated point shitting mechanism, in combination, switch points, a motor, a circuit closing switch including two contacts 2111(12111 arm traversing said contacts, means for operating said switch points from said motor including a rotatable element, means for operating said switch arm from said motor, a motor circuit, means for closing said motor circuit through either of said contacts and said switch arm, a circuit closing member on said rotatable element and means for alternately closing and breaking the motor circuit through said circuit closing member, the circuit being closed through said member when it is open at the switch arm and closed through the switch arm when it is open at said member.

In electrically operated point shifting mechanism, in combination, switch points, a motor, means for operating the switch points from the motor, a circuit closing switch including two contacts and a switch arm, means for operating the switch arm from the motor to alternately engage said contacts, a motor circuit, a double relay for closing said circuit through corresponding contacts. a common conductor for the windings of said relay, said windings being joined constantly in series and being operated independently and alternately through current of a different sign supplied by said con ductor, and means for closing said motor circuit when the circuit closing contact of said switch arm is broken.

6. In electrically operated point shifting mechanism, in combination, switch points, a motor, a rotatable element driven by the motor and having a crank arm, a lever having an intermediate pivot, a link connecting said crank arm with said lever to rock the latter, a connection between said lever and said switch points to cause movement of the latter alternately in opposite directions, a circuit closing switch including two con- I tacts and a switch arm, a connection between l said lever and said switch arm to cause the latter to traverse said contacts alternately in I opposite directions, a contact member actn- I ated by said rotatable element, contact means alternately engaged and disengaged by said contact member, a motor circuit, means for closing the circuit through either of said contacts and said switch arm and means for alternately closing and breaking the circuit through said contact member and said contact means, the circuit being closed through said contact member when it is open at the switch arm and closed through the switch arm when it is open at said cont-act member. 7. In electrically operated point shifting mechanism, in combination, switch points, a motor, means for operating said switch points from said motor, a motor circuit, switch means controlling said motor circuit, means for operating said switch means from said motor to alternately open and close said motor circuit, means for nntially establlshing said circuit through said switch means and motor operated contact means for maintaining said circuit closed, said last named means being operable only when the circuitis broken by said switch means during the operation thereof.

8. in point shifting mechanism of the type set forth, in combination, switch points, operating means therefor comprising a rotatable element having a crank arm, a lever, a connection between said crank arm and said lever and a. connection between said switch points and said lever, mechanism for indicating the position of the switch points and means operatively connecting said mechanism to said lever for operating the latter from the former.

9. in point shifting mechanism of the type set forth, in combination, switch points, a motor, operative connections between said motor and said switch points, means for causing the operation of said motor to move the switch points in one direction, motor controlled means for interrupting the action of said last named means and after such interruption for setting such last named means for a further operation of the motor to reverse the movement of the switch points, and additional motor controlled automatically interru )ted means for continuing the operation of the motor after the interrupting operation of said first named motor controlled interrupting means.

.In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

ALFRED OESTERREICHEP.

Vitnesses:

SAMUEL Knvrso HERA, AUGUST FUGGER. 

